Native American Tribes in Northern Arizona have had difficulty accessing and cultivating clean water in their respective areas, and with summer in full swing, this issue needs rectifying. Representative Eli Crane (R-AZ) recently cosponsored the bipartisan, bicameral bill to ratify the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Agreement.
The Agreement, if ratified, would not only improve the provision of and authorization to lease clean water to the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe in northeastern Arizona, but also significantly boost economic development for these groups in the region. The bill also authorizes funds to build a pipeline and for other development and delivery projects, further enhancing the economic prospects for these tribes.
Another crucial part of the Agreement, introduced by Rep. Crane, is the creation of a reservation for the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe. This provision is particularly significant as it addresses the fact that this is the only recognized Tribe in Arizona without an official homeland, thereby providing them with a much-needed sense of place and security.
"I'm proud to be part of a bipartisan and bicameral coalition of lawmakers who are working to provide life-sustaining water delivery systems for the involved Tribes in Arizona. As the representative for the impacted communities, I've worked with Tribal leaders, in addition to State, County, and city officials in the district, during the formation of this legislation. The final passage of this legislation would be a meaningful win for Northern Arizonans, who I'm proud to fight for on a daily basis," Rep. Crane said in his press release.
Crane's colleague, Representative Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), introduced the bill, which received strong bipartisan support among Arizona's members of Congress in both the House and Senate.
"The Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Agreement and this legislation, which I am proud to introduce, will provide a long-lasting partnership between our state and the Navajo Nation, the Hopi Tribe, and the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe. This not only gives much-needed certainty to the Tribes but allows Arizona to better plan for a secure water future while providing for improved water infrastructure throughout the region," said Rep. Ciscomani.
